Choosing cabinet hardware for your new or renovated kitchen seems like an easy task after spending time selecting cabinets, counters, and appliances. But in fact, many homeowners seem to get stuck when it comes to making a choice on kitchen cabinet hardware.
No matter your kitchen design style, having the right decorative cabinet hardware will add instant flair and reflect the homeowner’s sense of style.
New hardware is, without a doubt, one of the easiest ways to spruce up your cabinets, it can add that personal touch and help update the look of an existing kitchen. Simple, classically styled pieces are most often chosen to complement a modern kitchen style.
Some homeowners focus particularly on providing an artistic value to their kitchen cabinets simply by selecting hardware that happens to be trendy, or unique. And these days, their task is easy, as cabinet hardware comes in a huge variety of options, suiting the many likes and preferences of most buyers.
In recent years, the quality of cabinet hardware has seen much improvement, thanks to which tastefully selected hardware can also raise the aesthetic value of the kitchen.
KITCHEN CABINET KNOBS
You probably wouldn’t think that something as small as a knob can make such a big difference in the overall look of your kitchen, but it can!
Knobs come in the widest selection of sizes, shapes, materials, and price points. But after all, it’s important that you select the best cabinet hardware that best fits the design and concept of your kitchen design.
Select a traditional knob design with a wooden or porcelain finish for a classic kitchen. When you opt for brushed or polished metal knobs, you will add a contemporary twist to your cabinets.
For fashionable style lovers, knobs that come in the shapes like cubes, spheres, cones, cylinders, swirls, and hoops, might be a more sophisticated choice.
Do you need a little bling in your kitchen? You could, for example, choose knobs with embedded rhinestones, gems, crystals, or colored glass.
If you want to soften the sharp look of your kitchen décor, you might go for knobs that have a considerably softer metallic finish, such as satin nickel, matte black iron, or brushed silver. Alternatively, you can perhaps buy them in a warm color like bronze, copper, or antique brass.
Satin nickel knobs can virtually match any scheme or color that you want or may already have in your kitchen. The elegant knobs with a satin finish will draw on the beauty of the cabinets, it will accentuate and glamorize the look you’re trying to create.
Satin nickel knobs look modern, so they will suit even the most contemporary of décor. They are not shiny or bright, but are warm, soft, and muted.
On the practical side, many homeowners prefer the satin finish as it is smooth and easy to wipe down, which protects against germs.
A stainless steel or brushed chrome knob is a great choice for the modern kitchen. This is because this finish does not create too much of a contrast, no matter what your cabinet color is.
On the other hand, if you had light-colored cabinets and dark knobs, you would notice a lot of distracting dots against the light background. The same holds true for white knobs on a dark cabinet finish.
In fact, there are so many possibilities where you are able to select knobs made from plastic, marble, granite, resin, and also semi-precious stones with eye-catching colors.
KITCHEN CABINET PULLS
Cabinet pulls that look attractive can make all the difference. Either they will transform an ordinary kitchen into something special, or they will help create a specific effect. Use identical handles throughout the kitchen to give its design a streamlined effect and prevent it from looking messy.
If there is a plain slab cabinet door in your kitchen, the hardware can become part of the design and thus, should be noticed. A long pull looks beautiful on a tall door.
Keep in mind that a pull, or a handle, will need to be installed horizontally on a drawer front. It is also possible to use different pull sizes on different kitchen cabinets. Handles can vary in size, so don’t start drilling the holes until the hardware is purchased.
T-bar handles have an angular shape and come in a variety of finishes and lengths. Go for a sleek, minimalist finish if your kitchen has a contemporary style, or pick a more intricate design if you’ve chosen a classic scheme.
D and Bow cabinet handles, which are bow-shaped and D-shaped pulls, are simple yet sophisticated and smart in style. They are available in a range of thicknesses, lengths, and profiles.
D handles have a slightly softer appearance than T-bar pulls thanks to their curved corners.
Bow handles look similar but consist of a single sweeping curve.
These two handles styles are similar to T-bar pulls but are curved at the corners for a softer-looking shape. They also fit in with contemporary cabinets, however, they are a better match for fronts with curves within their design.
Drop handles (also called drop-pendant, drop-bar, or drop-ring) are used almost exclusively in kitchens designed in a traditional style. Unlike other types of handles, they are hinged, which makes it easy to just lift them up and pull them when opening drawers or cupboards.
Recessed pulls, also called integrated handles, are a hallmark of an ultra-modern kitchen. They create an even, streamlined effect and feature embossed grooves and metal recessed pulls. Typically, they are positioned at the tops of cabinets and drawers.
CUP handles are traditional metal handles that can usually be found on drawers rather than cupboards. They come in chrome, brushed nickel, or antique brass. Because of their timeless, classic, and simple look, they often appear in the Shaker style kitchens, where they add a stylish finishing touch.
There are many things to consider when selecting a handle type for your kitchen cabinets, such as design, quality, durability, longevity, and more.
Brushed nickel pulls have all of these characteristics, making them a great choice and investment for your cabinets. If you want a simple yet classic look for your cabinets, brushed nickel pulls are perfect.
They can easily withstand any kind of environment. Humidity, drops of water, and heat will not easily wear out brushed nickel handles. They are very durable, so you can expect them to last a long time.
The sleek, sophisticated nickel finish makes the handles look expensive with no real cost. They can be matched, paired, and used in any scheme or design in the room.
Besides, a brushed nickel cabinet handle is not only easy to clean but even to restore.
Just like with the knobs, to soften the sharp appearance you might go for pulls with a softer, satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, copper, or matte black iron or silver finish. These finishes blend in beautifully with any kitchen décor and create a classic look.
Many pulls also have ornamental designs on the ends, which adds an extra decorative touch. Antique brass finish lends a vintage look to the handle while curved or arched shapes make it easy to grab the handle when opening a door or drawer.
KNOBS OR PULLS?
You may choose to use knobs on the doors and pulls on the drawers. But if you use the pulls on the doors and knobs on the drawers, the mix will not look as good, so think carefully if you decide on this look. Make sure the cabinet hardware is a matching set to complement your kitchen décor.
Handles are a popular choice for those who want the hardware to stand out on the cabinet doors. They can definitely be noticed more than knobs. When using a handle though, there may be some damage to the cabinet over time from fingernails, dirt, and oils.
Finally, it is important that you think through your hardware decision in advance, as once the holes are drilled, it will not be feasible to change them. But if you have knobs on the door, you could later drill a second hole if changing to a handle.
However, the drawers would need two new holes drilled, leaving the original hole exposed. Obviously, you might never change from handles to knobs once the holes are drilled. If you really want to find a way, you could install a backplate under the handle in order to hide the extra hole in the cabinet.
Also, watch out for knobs that are not round as they will not remain in the same horizontal position and will turn in different directions over time! In this case, you can put some glue between the door and the knob so that it will stay in position. Or, just avoid them altogether.
Whichever cabinet hardware style or design you choose, it can be fairly easy to replace it in the future if you decide that you need a change or update. Knobs can be easily replaced with a single screw. Pulls vary in length so make sure your replacement handles have the same hole spacing as the original.
Just a little reminder, whatever finish for your new cabinet handles or knobs you select, it’s also important to purchase matching screws, hinges, and floor registers.
On A Final Note,
As you can see, the decision to choose kitchen cabinet hardware is not always that easy!
Kitchen cabinet knobs and handles are not only there to serve the purpose of opening and shutting the cabinet door or drawer. Choosing the best hardware for your cabinets is crucial as those elements can add a unique look to your kitchen décor.
So why wait? Revamp your space with impressive or fancy cabinet hardware that could define the style statement of your kitchen. But regardless of whether you ultimately choose cabinet knobs or pulls, choose sensibly!
The post How To Choose Kitchen Cabinet Hardware To Match Décor? appeared first on Marina View Homes.
